Dominican obtaining work visa for Canada?

[trina]

Originally Posted by nikke

You said it, Trina, and you said it well...I've asked my cousin, who is not as educated as Vetania but was also told to return in a few months, to just relax and not to worry. I don't want them spending another cent on affairs at the Embassy.

He too is not interested in marrying to get over here...in fact he just wants to visit first and if he likes it, he wants to come over here the right way. When we talk about the Sankie stories he's so upset. They were never raised that way. Luckily for him, he has an ok job and a decent home and family life in the DR...not a millionaire but he is so rich in other aspects.

I'll hope to visit the family when I go to the DR next month. Are you planning any trips soon?

I cannot believe that they are telling everyone to apply again, it makes one think that it really is just a money-making scheme. How callous, in a 3rd World Country, where the money spent is a sacrifice and hardship to those applying. I don't want Vetania to spend any more money on this, however, she is determined, and I will support her efforts and help her again in the Spring. I have written a letter to my MP, and various Immigration representatives, but haven't received a response from anyone.

I agree that many Dominicans are so much richer than we are in so many aspects. Family is everything to them, and they really look out for one another. When I visit, I never have to worry about my kids...they are being passed around and hugged and kissed and loved by many. Life is just not like that here...if Vetania EVER gets a visa, I hope this part of "American" life doesn't disappoint her.

We researched bringing Vetania here to be our nanny, through the "live-in caregiver" program. One of the stipulations is that the caregiver cannot be a relative. How ludicrous is that? Who could ever love my kids more than a relative? Our immigration system lacks common sense, but then again, I suppose the illogical policies of our government should no longer shock me.

[trina]

Originally Posted by nikke

I'll hope to visit the family when I go to the DR next month. Are you planning any trips soon?

I forgot to answer this part -
Good for you! I think we may be going in February. We have to go sometime before the 19th, when our littlest one turns 2 and will have to pay full fare! Right now, he flies and stays for free, but after Feb 19, we will have to pay for him to come with us.

[trina]

Might as well go out with a bang if she's not about to get a visa...

I just finished talking to Vetania xxxxx, my cousin who had applied to work in Canada upon being offered a contract by xxxx at xxxxxx Farms. To say the least, helping Vetania apply for a visa has been a very trying and frustrating experience.

I simply cannot believe, with the shortage of skilled labourers there is in Canada, that we are denying people who would make a very positive contribution to combat this problem. Canada has even set up a program to help farmers hire Internationally through the "Caribbean/Mexican Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program" to help alleviate the need for workers. Ask xxxx of xxxxxx Farms how this program has helped him.

On April 26, 2006, xxxx made an official offer to Vetania to work on his farm. He has had numerous labour-related problems arising from the labour shortage for agriculture in Ontario, and decided to try to hire out-of-country to try to fill this void. Vetania paid the application fee and took all documents necessary to Santo Domingo on May 4, 2006. She was asked to return on May 18, 2006, to have a medical done. This medical cost nearly $200 CDN - why are residents of a 3rd World country asked to submit a medical exam when they are going to be declined for a visa? Shouldn't this be the last step of the procedure, rather than the first? All in all, over $650 was spent in applying for this visa, only for the visa to be declined. That is absolutely shameful in a 3rd World country.

Finally, on July 6, Vetania was asked to go to the Embassy in Santo Domingo again to retrieve her documents. At this time, she expected to receive her visa, only to find a letter declining the application. The reason? "LACK OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS WHICH WOULD ENABLE YOU TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES". This is absolutely untrue, and ludicrous, given the fact that Vetania was never granted an interview to showcase her ability to speak English! Is it even legal to decline an applicant a visa on the basis of language skills when an interview had never been granted? Needless to say, we were all confused, and at this point, I contacted my MP. My MP's office was kind enough to contact the Embassy on Vetania's behalf, and after some discussion, Vetania was granted an interview on September 18, 2006. They couldn't give her an interview sooner because of a lack of staff in Haiti to hold interviews! During this time, xxxx's crops are rotting due to not having enough labourers working them. He had major staff issues this summer, and some of it could have been alleviated if Embassy staff were properly attending the applications.

Today, September 18, Vetania again made the 3-hour trip to the Embassy where she had an interview this morning. The Embassy staff held the interview to assess her English skills. For some reason, Huguette Brutus of the Canadian Embassy in Haiti, asked Vetania to bring MY proof of Immigration status (she thought I was Vetania's sister). I didn't know I HAD an Immigration status, as I am a Canadian Citizen by birth. I explained to her that I am Vetania's cousin, who lives 3-days drive from where Vetania would be working, I am not hiring her, I am only related to her through marriage (cousin), and I am not sponsoring her. She still insisted that Vetania bring my documents, so I sent a copy of my birth and marriage certificate to Vetania to add to her file. Vetania was also asked to bring "ORIGINALS" of documents already deposited at the Embassy. Vetania had to get "new" "originals" because the Embassy already had the original "originals". In the interview, the Immigration worker told Vetania that she spoke very very good English. Vetania had a letter from her English School, saying that Betania had completed her fourth English course, and that she has excellent skills in reading, writing, and translating English. HOWEVER, she was, once again, declined the visa, this time their reason being that "the job offer has terminated". I have attached the scan of the letter xxxx sent to Vetania, saying the job offer is good until October 1, 2007! Once again, the Embassy is declining her visa due to untrue and unreasonable grounds. The Embassy received a copy of the attached letter this morning when Vetania went for her interview...perhaps the Embassy staff lack the English skills required to understand this letter? I am not being sarcastic - the attached letter clearly states that the job offer is good and in effect until October 1, 2007.

I don't know what to do next - she has once again unfairly been declined the visa. Vetania has her heart set on working in Canada to raise enough money to finish her University education in the Dominican Republic. I don't understand how and why the Embassy can make these decisions that affect people's LIVES without having grounds or considering adequate information to make the decisions. She was told by Embassy staff to apply again next year, but who wants to waste ANOTHER $650, as well as several hours in commute and time, just to most assuredly be declined once again? I guess they want people to just give up, and I'm sure they are often successful in accomplishing this. I was told that if you've been declined a visa once, you are automatically declined when you apply again. I implore you to help me understand why Vetania's visa was once again declined. I am seriously considering writing an article about what we've experienced at the hands of Immigration Canada for an associate who works for the Calgary Sun, however, I will anxiously await a response to this e-mail before speaking with anyone further about this matter. I have developed a network of friends who have encountered similar problems at this same Embassy in Haiti, each of whom would love the opportunity to share their experiences. I have attached a copy of the thread I've started on a popular Dominican Republic-related message board. To date, the thread Dominican obtaining work visa for Canada?
has received 3,000 views. Many people from this message board have contacted me with stories of woe about Immigration Canada, all problems stemming from the Embassy in Haiti. Thank you again for your time and attendance to this issue.

This was written on Monday evening, and of course, I haven't yet had a single reply to the e-mail.

[bob saunders]

Keep up the good fight. I of course would have said things a little different, especially the third world part, but you certainly got your message across loud and clear. Keep on with pressure on your MP. I'll contact mine also and see what he says, since he's a goverment member also.

[trina]

Originally Posted by bob saunders

Keep up the good fight. I of course would have said things a little different, especially the third world part, but you certainly got your message across loud and clear. Keep on with pressure on your MP. I'll contact mine also and see what he says, since he's a goverment member also.

Thanks, Bob. I certainly appreciate it. Ralph Klein is officially handing in his resignation as Premier of Alberta today , so with a heated leadership race in the works (my MP being one of the prime candidates), we may (?) get a break.

[Chris]

Trina, brilliant! In my view, the right mix of facts, subtle intimidation, and emotion to make the 'authorities' act! Now, go and write that article! Have it ready to be published in 3 seconds flat!

You're one of a kind Trina!

[nikke]

I agree - well written! I hope the receipients will do something now. Keep us posted!!

[trina]

Thanks for the support, ladies! Hopefully, something will come of this, but of course, I am not holding my breath. I just received another e-mail from Vetania, saying that she wants to try again in January, because the Immigration lady told her that for sure she should get a visa if she tries again!

[AnnaC]

Trina do they refund any of the money when they turn down an application?

[trina]

Originally Posted by AnnaC

Trina do they refund any of the money when they turn down an application?

nope, nada, nunca. What really peeves me about this whole mess is that they (a) declined Vetania's visa on the grounds that she doesn't speak English without giving her an interview, which is against Immigration Canada rules; THEN (b) screwed around for months after they'd been told that they had to interview her, and wasted just enough time that the original job contract expiry date was 2 weeks away; THEN (c) used THIS reason (the contract was expiring) to decline her, even though she came prepared for this by bringing an updated letter stating that the job offer was still good and in effect until Oct 1, 2007.

Absolutely ridiculous, as someone told me in an e-mail today - total crap.